Pop Base: NewJeans' Hanni Summoned To South Korea's National Assembly & More

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NewJean’s Hanni Scheduled To Appear In South Korea National Assembly

On September 30, Rep. An Ho-young, a member of the opposition Democratic Party of Korea and chairman of the committee, requested ADOR’s girl group NewJeans' member Hanni to appear in the National Assembly Audit as a reference for a workplace harassment inquiry, alongside 34 other individuals.

The audit, set for October 25, 2024, will focus on the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Economic, Social, and Labor Council. Hanni will be specifically questioned about bullying in the music industry and workplace harassment practices.

Billlie’s Messy Generative AI Album Cover Graphics

Recently, K-pop girl group Billlie found themselves at the center of controversy over something beyond their control. On October 2, MYSTIC STORY, the group's label, uploaded album cover photos for their latest release, “Appendix: Of All We Have Lost.” Fans quickly spotted an unusual detail: a hand with six fingers, suggesting that the graphic designer had used Generative AI for the final product. Given the growing trend of replacing artists and creatives with AI to cut labor costs, fans expressed concerns that Billlie's creative team might have been similarly mistreated by the label.

However, Regina Kim, the visual artist responsible for the album covers, has since addressed the issue. She clarified that while she did use Generative AI, but it was only as a tool to assist her creative process. She emphasized her intention to be more thoughtful and responsible in her future work. Despite Kim’s sincere explanation, the album has likely already been printed, as its release is just two weeks away so no edits can be done anymore.

The More You Know:

• On October 5, SEVENTEEN’s label, PLEDIS Entertainment, teased a documentary titled “SEVENTEEN: Run-Up to the Leap.” Judging by the teaser, this documentary will plausibly offer an inside look at the practice sessions and behind-the-scenes moments from SEVENTEEN’s recent performance at Lollapalooza Berlin. While the label has confirmed a release date of October 8, 2024, at 21:00 (KST), They have yet to announce which platform the documentary will be available on.

• MAMAMOO's Solar, WJSN's Eunseo, STAYC's Sumin, and Lovelyz's Jisoo are set to star in the upcoming Korean thriller, “Gory: A Horror Tale.” Directed by Hong Won Ki, the film revolves around the unsettling experiences of multiple characters who encounter eerily similar events. The story features an elderly man trying to damage a village's sacred guardian tree, an office worker fixated on beauty who meddles with her neighbor's packages, a mother making deals with spirits to secure her daughter's admission into medical school, a senior police officer determined to manage a case solo despite his junior's protests, and a college student chasing social media fame by creating horror-themed content.

  Currently in production, the movie is scheduled for release in 2025, promising to bring a chilling new story to the screen.

• On October 4, Stray Kids' leader Bang Chan celebrated his 27th birthday by donating 100 million won to the Community Chest of Korea. In a press release, he expressed his gratitude, stating, "I am thankful to share the love I have received from my fans. I hope that my small actions will reach the hidden corners of society." The funds will be used to support individuals with developmental challenges and to assist athletes with disabilities.

• Although the Asia Artist Awards 2024 lineup was announced months ago, the hosts for the event remained unknown until recently. However, it has now been confirmed that IVE's Jang Won Young and ZEROBASEONE's Sung Han Bin will return as MCs after successfully hosting the Asia Artist Awards last year.

• As multiple idols depart for their mandatory military enlistment, K-Pop stans have been left teary-eyed. However, nothing could have prepared them for the equally emotional military discharge events. On October 3, MONSTA X’s Minhyuk was discharged from the military, and all his fellow members were there to make the day memorable, making fans and non-fans equally emotional.

Our Favorite Songs From Last Week

While last week’s K-Pop comeback schedule was packed, no song captivated us quite like “R.E.M” by Kiss Of Life. This full-English track, a pre-release for their upcoming album, steps away from the group’s usual upbeat pop sound. With its laid-back and chill melody and dreamy vocals, it may not have the instant catchiness of a typical pop song, but it’s the kind of track you can easily vibe to for hours.

After EXO’s Chanyeol’s recent solo album, his groupmate, Chen also dropped his digital single “Beyond:” last week, and though it only includes two songs, both are absolute gems. The first track “Love you” is a melancholic, mellow piece that highlights Chen’s soulful, husky vocals, sinking deep into your heart. On the flip side, the b-side “Brighter than” shares the same mellow tone but with a slightly brighter melody and vocals. Each track has its own unique charm, making it impossible to pick a favorite — you’ll just have to enjoy them both!

Lastly, YENA’s “It was love” hits the mark with its classic pop appeal. The melody and instrumentation bring a nostalgic feel, with a subtle J-Pop touch that makes it sound like it could easily be the opening theme for a youth anime.

This Week's Comeback Schedule

Saturday, October 5, 2024

• JEONG IN SEONG: Digital Single "처음 그때"

Sunday, October 6, 2024  

• HUI (PENTAGON): Digital Single "잡초 (With 장혜진)"

Monday, October 7, 2024 

• LEE MU JIN: 2nd Mini Album "만화"  

• The Wind: 3rd Mini Album "Hello: My First Love"  

• Yoon Seobin: Digital Single "Rizz"

Tuesday, October 8, 2024  

• Jay Park: Album "THE ONE YOU WANTED"

Wednesday, October 9, 2024  

• NOMAD: 1st Single Album "Call Me Back"  

• n.SSign: Japan 2nd Single Album "EVERBLUE"  

• CNBLUE: 14th Single "人生賛歌"

Thursday, October 10, 2024  

• AB6IX: 9th EP "BORN LIKE THIS"  

• BEWAVE: 1st Single Album "Be your Wave"  

• SooYoung: Japan Debut Album "Unstoppable"

Friday, October 11, 2024  

• JENNIE (BLACKPINK): Track "Mantra"  

• Billlie: Pre-Release "Trampoline"

— Javeria Yousuf

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